588 Notes on Northern Cachar. [No. 7. 



the regularity and evenness of their tops has the appearance of 

 lawn-like grass, and a huge tree (perhaps the remnant of some 

 former forest) rising here and there, in the jungle, and towering 

 high above the tops of the bamboos, adds much to the decep- 

 tion. This illusion is, however, completely destroyed when the 

 descent has been made, and it is found that instead of travers- 

 ing the smooth grass of a park, it is necessary to proceed along 

 a road wedged in between two walls of bamboo, thirty feet high, 

 stumbling at every step owing to the irregularity of the ground. 



As we proceed north, bamboo jungle, though common, is not so 

 frequent : its place is gradually taken by small trees with which it 

 is often interspersed, and which cover the low hills from summit to 

 base, and by the time we reach the plains we are in high tree 

 forest, of which the terai is composed. 



The whole of Toolaram's country may be characterised as 1800 

 square miles of tree jungle, 400 miles of which are in the plains, and 

 form part of the terai, the remainder being heaved up into a series 

 of low ridges and undulating hills, only fourteen square miles of the 

 whole being under cultivation. Yet the country is extremely fertile, 

 as all tracts must be, which lie at the foot of lofty ranges. 



Villages of Cucharees, Kookies and Nagas are pretty plentifully 

 scattered about the southern and central portions of the district, 

 and sometimes, when perched in prominent places, as those of the 

 Nagas invariably are, add much to the interest of the view, which 

 has generally too much of sameness in it to be pleasing. 



The Burrail range running along the entire southern boundary 

 of the district, is the most stupendous and beautiful feature in 

 it. These mountains are very irregular in their formation, and 

 throw out peaks and spurs and ridges in all directions, their 

 summits and sides for a considerable distance being crowned with 

 glorious timber forests. Nothing can exceed the beauty of these 

 hills, as viewed from certain positions and in certain lights : the 

 eifect of the dark-coloured foliage standing out in relief against a 

 clear sky showing minutely the picturesque irregularity of their 

 outline, is not equalled by any other hill-scenery I have ever met 

 with. 



The height of these mountains is, I should say, about 2500 feet 



